"Oh, Ralph, what is it? Nothing about your people, is it?"
"No, it's nothing to do with me. It's about Roland."
Although she made no movement, and though the expression of her face did not appear to alter, it seemed to him that, at the mention of Roland's name, her vitality was stilled suddenly.
"Yes?" she said, and waited for his reply.
"He's not hurt, or anything. You needn't be frightened. But he wanted you to know that he has become engaged to Muriel Marston."
She said nothing for a moment, then in a dazed voice:
"Oh, no, you must be mistaken, it can't be true, it can't possibly!"
"But it is, April, really. I'm awfully sorry, but it is."
She rose from her chair, swayed, steadied herself with her left hand, took a half pace to the window and stood still.